Reviews

A Separate Peace by John Knowles

and_cont's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

madelynnfish's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

charlietuna92's review against another edition

3.0

We read this in class junior year of high school, and I have to admit, we were supposed to be talking about the vocabulary, syntax, you know, fun stuff like that... But we ended up talking with our teacher about the homosexually erotic undertones throughout the book. Actually, this was a pretty interesting book to analyze

amyschmelzer's review against another edition

3.0

This book is neither bad nor good. If you said it was your favorite, then I could agree with your reasons. If you argue for it being the worst, then I could see that as well. I really need to stay away from books with a war component although this could be worse.

I revisited this book because it was one I was supposed to read in high school. Did I? Not sure. All I remember of it is that this is the book that taught me how to spell “separate” properly. It was also my first exposure to the name Phineas.

All in all it’s a sad book. Gene, our narrator, is at a boarding school in the 1940s when boys slightly older than him are off fighting in WW2. Gene is jealous of his friend and roommate Phineas. An incident occurs. Gene feels guilty. More stuff happens to pass the time.

There’s a classmate of Gene and Phineas who they affectionately call “Leper” even to the boy’s face. Although Leper’s part isn’t as drawn out as Catch-22, it did remind me of that book. War is crazy and anybody who wants to fight in war is probably crazy.

erinkolb's review against another edition

4.0

I read this book for the first time as a high school senior. I don't remember getting much from it. However, I recently re-read this book and I was amazed at how much I was able to relate to it. I was blown away by the first few pages when the Gene returns to the school's campus. Being older I now understood the feelings Gene describes by revisiting a place of his youth. Re-reading this book was a great reminder to me a book may become something different given my ever changing ideas, feelings, experiences, etc.

simcha13's review against another edition

5.0

I love this book. I first read it in 8th grade - a million years ago. But I have since read it as an adult and I still think it is a beautiful novel. Probably my favorite of the classics.

jmh1781's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

mxrsha's review against another edition

adventurous emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

iamleighbot's review against another edition

I personally didn't get connected to the characters and didn't really care about the story. Gene doesn't seem to have matured at all from his school days, so the 'look back and sigh' storytelling feels forced

brittanyrluv's review against another edition

5.0

Had to read it for English and fell in love. It's the only book that involves history that I really like.